Apple’s Mixed Reality AR/VR Headset to Feature Digital Crown, Waist-Mounted Battery Pack: Report

Apple's mixed reality headset is said to be equipped with an H2 chip, to provide an ultra-low latency connection to Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earphones.

Written by Sucharita Ganguly, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 4 January 2023 16:52 IST

Apple’s Mixed Reality AR/VR Headset to Feature Digital Crown, Waist-Mounted Battery Pack: Report

Photo Credit: Ian Zelbo

Apple’s mixed reality headsets will support both Augmented and Virtual Reality

Highlights

Apple’s mixed reality AR/VR headset is expected to launch in 2023
The headset’s field of view is reportedly said to be 120 degrees
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been enthusiastic about AR technology

Apple has remained relatively quiet on its mixed reality headset, which is tipped to be launched this year, but there have been enough patents filed and leaks to confirm that the iPhone maker has conducted extensive research into the first of many Augmented Reality (AR) wearables. The headset was already expected to be extremely light, which could be due to the battery being worn around the waist, as explained in a new report which adds that the selection of materials used includes aluminium, carbon fibre, and glass.

The Information reports that Apple's Virtual Reality (VR) solution will have a hot-swap battery design, which will make the reported one-to-two-hour battery life less irksome. The field of view is said to be 120 degrees, which is greater than most VR headsets, while a very high-resolution display with thin optics is also anticipated, according to the report, which cites multiple persons who have worked on the purported device.

Although speakers may be built into the headband, Apple's H2 chip may feature on the device, to provide an ultra-low latency connection to Apple's AirPods Pro 2 truly wireless earphones.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook has been enthusiastic about his endorsement of AR as the technology of the future, so a colour passthrough is a given, according to the report. Switching to a mixed reality view is said to be accomplished by rotating a digital crown like the one found on the Apple Watch and AirPods Max.

Cook stated in a 2022 interview with Dutch publication Bright that AR technology is "profound" and will have an impact on everything around us. He has critiqued VR in comparison to AR.

"It's [Metaverse] something you can really immerse yourself in. And that can be used in a good way. But I don't think you want to live your whole life that way. VR is for set periods, but not a way to communicate well. So, I'm not against it, but that's how I look at it," Cook was quoted saying.

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Among the most intriguing aspects of the report is the claim that iOS apps will be able to run in a two-dimensional view in Apple's AR/VR headset. If true, this would provide instant access to a large number of apps while developers create apps specifically for the new headset.

Apps will be created with Apple's Reality Kit software, as per the report, but the immensely popular Unity developers kit may also be supported. Because this would be Apple's first VR headset, getting enough apps to justify the rumoured $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1,65,800) to $3,000 (roughly Rs. 2,48,700) price of the Apple Reality headset could be difficult.

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Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design / Comfort
Audio Quality
Battery Life
Value For Money

Good
Beautiful, comfortable, and luxurious 
Best-in-class controls 
Seamless connectivity with Apple devices 
Very good ANC and Transparency modes 
Wide, spacious soundstage 
Excellent, flexible sound

Bad
No power button, unpredictable power consumption  
Below-par battery life 
Smart Case is a bit silly 
Lightning charging port 
No ANC level adjustment

Read detailed Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones review

Headphone Type Over-Ear

Microphone Yes

Connectivity Wireless

Type Headphones

More Apple Headphones & Headset

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Further reading: Apple Mixed Reality Headset, Mixed Reality, AR, VR

Sucharita Ganguly

Email Sucharita Ganguly

Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More